Hydraulically checked escape reel



Aug. 16, 1949. H. H. JACKSON HYDRAULICALLY CHECKED ESCAPE REEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed F eb. 24, 1948 Aug. 16, 1949. r H. H.- JACKSON 2,479,116

HYDRAULICALLY CHECKED ESCAPE REEL Filed Feb. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1949 UNITED] -srA-r as FATE iorrrca 2,479,116

HYDBAULTCALLY CHECKED ESCAPE rt i E 'f; Herman H. Long Beach, Calif.,- assign rg. of one-third to Fred Er, Lewellirrg: and one-thtrd toCarlbH- :De Leslie, both-pf Longi Beac h Cal-it.- rip- Si ication Fcbruar y- 24, 194 8 ,serarnauazre This. invention relates to a hydraulically Checked escape reelfor'usein'buildings, towers, such as oil well towers, and other structures having material heighth.

My invention permits an occupant or workman of a building or a tower to readily escape from that building or tower by lowering himself on a cable, unspooling of the cable being controlled by a suitable check means such as a hydraulic check or snubber.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel hydraulically checked escape reel which is simple and compact in construction, and which can be readily positionedin a building or on a tower so that an occupant or workman can lower himself to the ground by clinging to a cable which is reeled in the escape device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character stated in which the cable can be quickly re-reeled after it has been extended in actual use.

Another feature of my invention is to provide a device of the character stated which has a high factor of safety and which is light, compact, and can be easily transported from place to place as desired.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing: a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my hydraulically checked escape reel.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side from that shown in Figure 1.

- Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of my hydraulically checked escape reel.

Figure 4 is a side view of the crank plate with the cover plate removed.

Figure 5 is a side view ofthe hydraulic check with the housing removed.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is another transverse sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I indicates a frame, which includes spaced side plates 2, and 3. The entire frame I is preferably assembled of various plate sections, however, it might be cast or otherwise formed if desired.

A reel 4, includes a shaft 5, and this shaft is journaled in the side plates 2, 3, A cable 6, is mounted on the reel 4, and is coiled in the usual manner. This cable extends out through an 2 Claims. (01. 54-158) L. 5

epening'l, inthe bottom: of the frame I. A handlefi, is attached to one end of the 5, and this handle reminds the cable It, atter'it has been extended, andthe ratchet release to permit this rewinding will be subsequently described.

A crank plate 9, is journaled on the end of the shaft 5, opposite the handle 8," and this crank plate is preferably on the outside of the side plate 2, although the exact position of this crank plate is not material. This crank plate is caused to turn with the shaft 5, when the cable 6, is being unreeled, by the following construction: A ratchet wheel I0, is fixedly secured to the shaft 5. A ratchet or detent I I, is pivotally secured to the crank plate 9, and engages the ratchet wheel I I], in clockwise rotation of this ratchet wheel, as viewed in Figure 4. The usual spring I2. presses the detent into or against the ratchet wheel I0. It'will thus be evident that when the cable 6, is being unreeled, the crank plate 9, will also rotate at the same speed as the shaft 5.

When it is desired to rewind the cable 6, the handle 8, is rotated in a direction so that the detent II, will escape the drive of the ratchet wheel I0, thus permitting the cable to be rewound on the reel 4. A cover I3, is mounted on the crank plate 9, and includes the ratchet and ratchet wheel assembly. To retard the free unreeling of the cable 6, I provide a hydraulic check I 4, which is fixedly secured to the frame I, adjacent the reel 4, and preferably the hydraulic check is above the reel, although it is obvious that other positions are also practical. I

The hydraulic check I4, is of a usual and well known type, and the detail construction of this check forms no part of this invention. However, to clarify the operation of my device, one hydraulic check of a type which might be used will be described. A housing I5, includes a pair of fixed walls I6, I6, which project inwardly substantially as shown. An oscillating piston I1, is mounted in the housing, and forms the chambers I8, I8, and I9, I9, with the fixed walls, Hi. The piston I'I, includes a shaft '29, to which an arm 2|, is fixedly attached. A link 22, is pivotally secured to the arm 2 I, and the crank plate I3, and thus it will be evident that as the crank plate rotates, the arm 2I, will oscillate the piston l1. Oscillation of the piston I1, will cause the chambers I 8, and I9, to alternately contract and enlarge, thus forcing fluid from between the piston I1, and the fixed wall, I6, during the time that the chamber I8, or I9, is contracting in size.

The fluid can flow through escape ports 23, and 24, and will move from the contracting area of the snubber to the area which is expanding. As

briefly stated, this method of restricting the flow of fluid through a snubber is usual and well known in the art, and the particular type of snubber is of no moment in this invention. The purpose of the snubber is to restrict the free rotation of the reel 4, and cause this reel to rotate at a fixed rate of speed, slow enough so that a person clinging to the cable 6, will not be injured when he reaches the ground.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A hydraulically checked escape reel, comprising a frame, a reel journaled in said frame, a hydraulic check means, a crank plate connected to said reel, a crank arm on the hydraulic check means, and a link connecting said crank plate and crank arm, a detent on the crank plate, and a ratchet wheel mounted on said reel, said detent lockingly engagin the ratchet wheel in one direction of rotation'of said reel.

2. A hydraulically checked escape reel, comprising a frame, a reel journaled in said frame, a cable wound on'the reel, a hydraulic check means REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,203,467 Berg Oct. 31, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,594 Great Britain Nov 22, 1892 

